Community saddened over loss of Press Bar in Downtown St. Cloud

Firefighters in St. Cloud battled a blaze at a downtown bar. Several area streets were closed as smoke billowed from a fire at the Press Bar early Monday. St. Cloud Fire Chief Dean Wrobbel says firefighters were pulled out of the building because of structural concerns and have gone into defensive firefighting mode to protect the adjacent buildings. WJON reports the initial call came in about 2:40 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KSTP spoke with community members who say they felt like family at the downtown bar.

Press Bar is total loss. Fire officials say they will have to tear down the building today in order to completely put fire out @KSTP pic.twitter.com/J77Q7TXwyy

— Ashley Zilka (@ashleyzilka) February 17, 2020

The Press Bar- St. Cloud, MN pic.twitter.com/MkOa6NjVZJ

— Connor Dols (@conrdols) February 17, 2020